Presented by the American Bar Association International Criminal Law Committee

This program was recorded on August 7, 2024 at 12 noon ET. Watch the video recording here or on our YouTube channel.

The term mass grave lacks a universally accepted legal definition in international law. However, various legal instruments under international humanitarian law, including Additional Protocol I, aim to promote the protection of mass graves and ensure the dignity of the deceased.

ICLC hosted a two-part webinar on mass graves. The first webinar addressed context-specific issues and broad challenges related to mass graves, highlighting how human rights leaders and lawyers in affected communities have responded to these situations. The second webinar, recorded October 30, 2024, looked into the technical aspects of mass graves from a legal and forensic point of view.

This program is co-sponsored by the International Association of Genocide Scholars.

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Speakers

Dr. Laurie W. Rush has a BA from Indiana University Bloomington, an MA and PhD from Northwestern University, and is a Fellow of the American Academy in Rome. Her research specialty is Native Americans of the Great Lakes, and she is an Army Archaeologist who serves as Cultural Resources Manager and Native American Affairs Coordinator for the 10th Mountain Division and Fort Drum. Dr. Rush is a Research Associate of the Smithsonian Institution, a University of Pennsylvania Consulting Scholar, Secretary of the US Committee of the Blue Shield, and is internationally recognized for her work on miliary education for protection of cultural heritage.

Awring Shaways is the founder of KG Lobby Center, Shaways has been instrumental in raising awareness about the plight of the Kurdish people and advocating for their rights. As KG Lobby Center they have tirelessly fought for the acknowledgment of the atrocities committed against the Kurdish people and have worked to ensure that their history and suffering are not forgotten. Throughout her career, she has worked extensively with women organizations, specifically Kurdish women and refugees, showcasing her commitment to promoting gender equality and empowering women.

Imraan Mir is a lawyer, entrepreneur and author. His Kashmir-related work involves research, writing and advocacy to improve understanding of historic and contemporary realities and to promote accountability for rights violations. He has done human rights-related work on Kashmir since the late 1990s independently and through various organizations, including the Kashmir Law and Justice Project. He holds a J.D. from Harvard Law School.

The panel was moderated by Vy Nguyen, Vice Chair ICLC.

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